Mining sulfur.



H. FRASCH.

MINING SULFUR,

APPLICATION HLEU MAY 3. 1912.

1,152,499 Patented 5pm. 7, 1015. FZ A Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN FBASGH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOTHE UNION SULPHUR COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OFNEW JERSEY.

MINING SULFUR.

Application filed May 3, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that IQLHERMAN Fmscrr, a. citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, Manhattan borough, New York county, intheState of New York, have invented certa'm' new and useful Improvements inSulfur, of which the 01 lowing is a specification.

This invention. relates more particularly to obtaiuing sulfm by meltingthe same'in a natural deposit underground and removing it therefrom inthe melted: state; but each of. the improvements composingtheinventionis intended to be 'secured' -for all the uses to which itcan be applied, with or withoutmodification. 0n October 20, 1891,Patents 461,429 and 461,430 were granted to me for, respectively, theprocess of and the apparatus for such mining by fu'si'omn fusion fluid(more particularly, but not necessarily exclusively,- water heated underpres sure toabove the melting point ofi'sulfur): being introducedinto-the deposit and the melted sulfur being raised to the surface oithe ground by the pressure o'f said fusion fluid in the deposit or bypumping; it that 7 time Ibelieved that sulfur deposits were tight, or,other words, of such natiire that on boring nlnvell hole :into a depositand in-' troducing iusion fluid through such hole saidfusion fluid'would'be confined by'thesurrounding material of theideposit to-the"well hole or its immediate vicinity; except as an enlarged cavityshould be formed by the removal ofthe sulfur; and Idescribed in' saidpatents the introduction into the deposit of water of a temperature ofabout 35 F; above the melting point of sulfur, the removal of thewaterwhilestill above said meltingpoint, but after such loss oftemperature asshould result from the melting operation, and the reintroduction of thewater after again raising its temperature to about 35 F. above saidmelting point. Subsequently when I'found that the/sulfur deposit, whichI had specially in mind when I made the so patented inventions, was nottight, but porous, and that it was flooded with water, it becamenecessary to overcome the difliculties thus presented. Moreover, inworking said deposit new difliculties have arisen with the progress ofthe mining operations. The difliculties have been greater by the factthat Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. '7, 1915.

Serial No. 695,008.

engineering furnished no precedents for dealing with most of them, andby the further fact that the operations were (and are) performedunderground away from direct observation, the control of said operationsbeing exercised entirely above ground by men who none of them enter orcan enter the deposit.

As described in my patents of September .19, 1905, Numbers 799,642 aud800-',1 27, and as recited in some of my claims therein, the highlyheated water introduced'asfusion fluid into the'deposit flows awayunderground instead of returning to the surface as set forth in my saidPatents 461,429 and 461,430;-and:-im actual working enormous volumes ofsuch highly heated water thus introduced into the deposit have beenflowing away underground during a number of years. This water has alwayscarried into the deposit many times as much heat as" would suffice tomelt the amount of sulfur actually obtained; and heretoiore,notwithstanding an evident accumulation of heat in the ground, thequantity of heat necesto be'sent intogthe deposit order to obtaintherefrom a; given amount of sulfur became larger and larger with thepro ress of exploitation; while the tonnageproducible in a given timewith-a given plant becamelessand less. I

I have conceived that the increasing quantity of heat 'required'p'er tonof sulfur ob,-'

tained and the 1 decreasing production per well per day might bo due, inpart at least, to a restriction of the fusion fluid (water of meltingtemperature) to certain parts of the deposit, the fusion fluid beingcrowded upward by water of lower temperature or excluded thereby fromcertain cavities in the sulfur bearing'rock and so kept away from muchof the sulfur, and that by withdrawal froln'the deposit of'water of atern drawal of water) and to attain a higher production per well per daythan the average of said previous operations and even to ncrease theproduction per day from particular wells in operation under my priormethods. Further, I believe that I can profitably obtain (if I have not,in fact, already so obtained) sulfur which could not otherwise beobtained profitably if at In accordance with the present invention,therefore, water of a temperature below the melting point of sulfur iswithdrawn from a porous water flooded deposit of sulfur into which anappropriate fus'on fluid (more particularly, but not y exclusively,water heated under presure to above the melting point of sulfur) isintroduced, and from which sulfur is removed in melted state. The threeoperations would bat be performed wntemfisoraneously; although it sbelieved that vantage over the prior stateoftheartmightbeobtainedwithom;contemporaneous ormance of all or evenofanytwoofthem;sincetbeefiectsofsaid water withdrawal and saidintroduction of frsiun fluid, each of them, continue for a certain timeafter stoppage of the operation itself. Care muld be taken to insureagainst the Mdifimfion of the sulfur in the piping b which the meltedsulfur is eemo ved andsilodkeep the sulfurf hnlielllted which istoslpplyp' ;orw c purposes fusion fluid would ibefizmveyed through appropriatepip' o sulfur raising W615 and be in dduced into the deposit near thesulgilrd intaks continuously during the making sulfur removingoperations. Allthefusimfluidmigbtbesointmduced near the sulfur intakes;butit is considered better to introduce the bulk of such fluidelsewhere.

I have, in the results stated, withdrawn water of lower temperature attheraueofabout pflcentbyvolume ofthewater of hem introduced contem intothe deposit, millionsofgallonsperdavbeingsowithdrawn from a deposit witha superficial area stimated at les than seventy fire acres;butahigheroralowerpercentagemnbc withdrawn within the limits of theinvention; the volume of withdrawn water may even exceed that introducedas fusion fluid; andrariatimiscanbemadeintheamounts per day sowithdrawn. By withdrawing the and introduction; since water entering thedeposit from subterranean sources may constitute a part (if not all) ofthe so withdrawn water. By causing water introduced as fusion fluid toflow away underground, the inflow of water from outside into the part ofthe deposit occupied by said fusion fluid is checked or prevented. Thischeck ing is desirable, but it is not necesarily esential to theinvention in its broader aspects I have introduced fusion fluid andremoved sulfur from a number of producing wells, which are separatedeach of them from the nearest water withdrawing well by a horizontaldistance of between about two hundred and about eight hundred feet; butsuch distances may be shorter than two himdred feet and longer thaneight hundred feet the limits of the invention. It is important to havea number of water withdrawing wells within influen distance of eachother and a number of wells each of them influencing distance of atleast one of said water withdrawing wells; although such disposition ofwells is not 11 y essential to the invention in its broader as 7 Waterof a temperature below the melt ing point of sulfur may be withdrawn atone or more levels; and it is considered advantageous to withdraw it atplaces below a level at which a large part at least of the fusion fluidis introduced into the deposit, and even below the intake of a Sulfurraising pipe. To insure such withdrawal, piping can be provided withwater intakes so located; but pasages in the deposit, nat urallyexisting therein or formed artificially by working or by boring, mayalso conduct water from such places at such lower level or levels to pipthat terminates at a higher level or love and within the limits of theinvention water may be withdrawn from any place or places at which it isof a.

temperature below the melting pointof a sulfur Withdrawal of water mightbe efiected within the limits of the invention where the presure in thedeposit is sufiicient, by allowing the water to escape fi-om the depositthrough piping, open at both ends, without employing special agencia toexpedite the flow; but it would ordinarily (if not always) be at leastadvantageous to employ such agencies, whether the pre$ure in the depositshould or should not be able (unaided) to raise water therefrom to thesurface of the ground. A pump connected with the piping and located atthe surface of the ground could be used; but it is considered importantto accelerate the flow to a greater extent than could be elfecuedthereby, appropriate accelerating agencies being applied to the watercolumn underground. It is con sidered best to force air into the columnof water in such quantity and at such distance below the surface of theground as to reduce the presure of the overlying column (reaching to thesurface of the ground) to the extent of a= number of atmospheres.

The particular deposit herein above meutioned ls flooded with naturallypresent water; but the invention includes also the working oiporousdeposits which have been flooded with water artificially. 'lhe generalGSPI'ESlODS water flooded porous de posit and. the like hereinafterapply to and are intendedtoinclude both sorts In the use of a porousdeposit not naturally flooded with .water, it is believed that advantageover attempts otherwise to work the same would be obtained by firstflooding the deposit artificially with water and then ruining the sulfurtherein by the operations and appliances which would be suitable for isulfurby fusion iromporousdeposits naturally flooded with water or byany appropriate part of said operations and appliances. The artificialflooding with water of a porous deposit preparatory to mining the sameby underground fusion can be resorted to when such mining is to beperformed in any known or suitable way; and deposits not naturallyflooded with water can, therefore, be mined in accordance with thepresent invention by first flooding the same with water artificially andthen proceedingtorueltthesuliurtherein and to remove it ln the meltedstate thereh-om, with or without withdrawal of water of a temperaturebelow the melting point of sulfur in em d. F-

accornpanymg wings: igures 1, 2 and?) illustrate a form of sulfurproducingwelllor combined melting and sulfur raising-well) which it isconsidered best to employ, but which may be replaced by other forms ofproducing wells or by separate wells forjntroducing fusion lipid and forremoving melted sulfur, 1 showing in elerafion the pi i v of such wellwith gaps therein at inter-v and indicating in section beds of earthy orrocky material, penetrated by such piping, and Figs. 2 and 3 diowing ona larger scale and in central vertical section the lower and the upperparts of such piping, respectively, certain valves drown in Fig. 1 beingomitted from Fig. 3; Fig. 4 illustrates a form of water withdrawing wellwhich it is considered as advantageous as any to employ and which may bereplaced by other forms, said well being shown on the scale of Fig. 1 incentral vertical action in connection with beds of earthy or rockymaterial penetrated thereby and containing gaps similar to those of Figs1, 2 and; 3, except that- Fig. 4 shows the well between levels which areincluded in one of thegaps of Figs. 1 and 3; and Fig. 5

is 11 in plan showing the superficial area of a deposit and thelocations of the two kinds of wells thereon, such locations being merelyby way of example. The portion of piping omitted at each gap in Figs. 1,*2, 3 and A} is the same as is represented above and below the same gap.

The pipe 0; (Figs. 1 and 3) is best in telescoping sections (see Patent9774+ granted on December 6, 1910, to my assignee). The branch 6,provided with valve 12, supplies fusion fluid thereto; best in the formof water heated to corresponding temperature by direct condensation init of steam at a pressure of from ninety to a hundred nods to the reinch (we my said atents 799,6liand 809,127). The lower section of pipe afits for a large part of its length within said upper section; andprojects below the latter to such distance as may be desired. A stufiingbox between them is composed (as shown in Fig. 3) of an esternallyflanged ring 0 fast on the lower ipe section and a follower d which ishel by nuts on bolts 6 (anchored in ring a) and eorupreses the pa 0between itself and theflangeofringcan againstthewallof the iuclosingpipe section.

The upper section is represented in Fig. 1 as posing through beds f g(the upper bed a}; of clay and the lower say of sand or of mixed sandand gravel) to a bed of nonprcductive rock k; while the lower sectionpromeds on down to the deposit (or bed of producing rock) i and into thesame to such extent, if any, as may be desired. Beds respectively offrom fifty to two hundred feet in thickness may be asumed by way of orample. It will, of course, be understood that the character andthickness of beds composing or overlying different deposits, and evendifi'erent parts of the same deposit will naturally vary. A shoe 0 isshown at the bottom of the lower section of pipe 41.

Below the pipe a is a stout perforated k; which fills the well ho e atleast approximately (see Patent 1,008,319 granted to my assignee onNovember 14, 1911) and is provided with a strmer section Z that isconnected through a swaged nipple m with a supporting pillar n ofsmaller diameter; whose foot rests on the bottom of the bore hole. Thelatter may terminate either at or above or below the bottom of thedeposit, as may be considered bestin each instance. The pillar n wouldbe of a suitable length to locate the strainer section 1 in the best.position or what the operator may consider to be such; and said pillarmay be omitted if not desired.

Inside the pipe a and well hole E:

nected with each other by the screw collar 2:. Other collars connectinglengths of pipe are shown at the ill.

Upon the ring 25 rests the casting z. The interior strainer 31 (ofperforated pipe closed at its lower end by a screw plug is screwed intoand depends from the bottom of said casting. The perforated (or outlet)section a of the inner fusion fluid pipe 9 is screwed into the top ofsaid casting. The latter forms a perforated partition or plug whichshuts oil the interior strainer y from the inner fusion fluid pipe 9 solong as the collar (composed of bushing 2' and coupling; 3) near thelower end of the sulfur raising pipe is seated on said casting (seePatents 799,642 and $00,127, hereinbeforc referred to)- The lower end ofthe. sulfur raising pipe (of reduced diameter as shown) projects throughthe casting is. This upholds ordinarily the sulfur raising pipe 1- aswell x the i mer fusion fiuid pipe 9; but the pipe r can be raised abovethe casting by at the surface of the ground whaiever it may be desiredto put said pipe 9 into communication through said a: with thestrainer 1. The pipes g and r pasflheformerthro hastufingboxion the headof pipe 2, an the latter through a stufingboxponaT-attheupperendof pipeg. A branch pipe 5, with valve 6, supplies fusion fluid to pipe g. Abranch pipe T, with valve 8, conveys melted sulfur from pipe 7 to asuitable receptacle (not shown) for the sulfur. The branch pipe 1;, withvalve 9, supplies fusion fluid when desired to the sulfur raising pipe rfor conveyance by the latter into the deposit; branch 7 be ing closed atsuch time beyond the junction with it of branch 2 {see Patent. 870,620granted on Kovember 12. 1907, to my assigee}. The valves 8 and 9 Slldbranches would be adapted for the interior disks or closurs fliereof tobe loosened by a blow should they stick fast (see Patent 988 994 grantedon April 11 1911, to y assigneel- The air pipe 8 has at the bottom asection 10 which is perfora'zedwith small holes -mthattheescapingairwill mingleiububbles with the melted sulfur. Portions ofpipe 3 otherwise detached from mch other are screwed (as shown) fromabove and belovv'respeefively into the plug 11; which supports said pipe3 and is secured to the T at the top of pipe r through the flangedcouplings 1:? and a nipple. Al: 13 is a valve.

The pipe ll of each water withdrawing well (Fig. l) p-ms (us shownthrough the beds f g to the non-productive rock I: overlying the depositproducing rock) j; while the pipe extends through the pipe 14 to, andfor such distance (if any) as may be des' into, the deposit j. Thesepipes are each of 'them upheld by the rock on which it rests. The pipe15 projects above the top of pipe 14.

lVithin the upper portion of pipe 15 and projecting above itis the pipe16; and within the latter is theair pipe 17, having a per forated bottomsection 18. The pipe 16 as shown is supported by the pipe 15 by means iof a collar (coupling) 19 which rests on the upper end of a swagcdnipple 20. At 21, 210 and 211, respectively, other collars (couplings)are shown. Between'flie collar 19 and'nipplc -20, 2-2 is shown; andpacking 23 is also shown the overlying collar 21 and the of pipe 14. Ifdesired, the space bctwearpipos 14 and 15 can be filled (for packingpurposes) with earthorclay;whichcanbemixedwith filer and introduced inthe gm osfmpgi air pipe 17 passes thro a v box 24. It is upheld by acollar 21 of said pipe resting on the follower 25 of the stufiinglllieox. At- 26 is a. valve.

bore hole 27 of the well is continued below the pipe 15 to such depth asmay be desired. The pipe 15 could also be provided with a perforated oran uuperforabed extension; say, for example, a well hole liningsuchasshownatkhfigs1,2and3,but without perforations, if so preferred. Asshown in Fig. 4., there are a few holes at 28 near the bottom of pipe-15to provide for the ingres ofwater in case the wall of well bore 27belowsaid pipe should fall in and so obstruct the inthe bottom of pipe15. A shoe 29 is shown-at the bottom of pipe 15. In F' 5 the superficialareaof a deposit.

' hundred feet acres at'its minor axis. The

locations of wells shown are by way of an illustrative example onlv.Itis not expected that producing wells should i aid indefinitely; andnew wells would be sunk and equipped and exploited as ma? be con thebore holes of the water withdrawing wells not only below the level atwhich fusion fluid is introduced into the deposit.

but also below the level from which melted 5 sulfur is removed. With theproducing well of Figs. 1. 2 and 3 the hull; of the fusion fluid wouldbe forced down the pipe a and would be introduced into the deposit jthrough perforations in the well hole lining i.- near the upper end ofsaid lining and the melted sulfur would be taken in through the bottomof the pipe 1'. The water withdmwing well shown in Fig. 4 has its waterintake at the bottom of pipe at, a level which may be above or below thebottom of pipe (1 of any given producing well. although with the bottomsof pipes a and 15 at the same level water may reach the pipe 15 the borehole '27 from a level J even below the lowest sulfur intake. The waterintakes for places at which the water is taken into the piping of thewater withdrawing wells) could be at an desired level appropriate toreceiving water of a temperature below the melting point of sulfur.

The fusion fluid conveyed through the pipe 9 and introduced into thedeposit a short distance above the sulfur intake insures againstsolidification of sulfur in pipe r and keeps the sulfur melted which isto supply said pipe. After the fusion fluid is once liberated it tendsto rise. being hotter and consequently lighter than the water bv whichthe lower partof the producing well i is surrounded; so that a meltingtemperature would not necessarily exist even a few feet away from saidwell. It is believed that the withdrawal of water of a temperature below the melting point of sulfur operates to 1 enlarge the fusion zone ofeach producing well. or at least of each producing well withininfluencing distance of such withdrawn].

In normal working, while sulfur is being removed through the pipe 1- ofeach producing well. water of a temperature above the melting point ofsulfur (constituting the fusion fluidl is introduced into the depositthrough pipes a and q of each producing well; and water of a temperaturebelow the melt ng point of sulfur is withdrawn from the deposit throughpipes 15 and 16 of each water withdrawing well; the'three operationsbeing performed contemporaneously. The fusion fluid is introduced asfast say as it will flow through said pipes at and q under prcsure ofbetween ninety and a hundred pounds to the square inch. in the heaters(not shown herein. but illustrated in" Patents 39.64;? and 800,127herein above mentioned) connected with said pipes The well hole liningsof the producingwells may be say eight inches in ill fllfnal diameterand the inner fusion fluid 5 pipe 9 five inches where it is inclosed bysaid lining, the sulfur raising pipe being say three inches in internaldiameter. The water is withdrawn at such rate as to equal say abouteight per cent. more or less of that introduced as fusion fluid. Thebottom of the air pipe 1? of each water withdrawing well wouldadvantageously be placed so far below ground (my three hundred feet,more or less. where the pressure in, the deposit, would bring water tothe surface) that the back pressure of the overlying column would bereduced by a number of atmosphem and the flow of water from the depositthrough such well would be correspondingly expedited.

Whenever occasion arises, the air is shut off from pipe 8. thus allowingthe melted sulfur in pipe 1- to sink to the level at which a column ofmelted sulfur (unmixed with air) would balance the pressure in thedeposit. The valve 8 being closed and the valve 9 opened, water (fusionfluid) can then be forced through the sulfur raising pipe into thedeposit. either for cleaning the strainers y and l or for increasing themelting. When thought best. the removal of melted sulfur can be resumed.

Operations and appliances appropriate to obtaining sulfur fi-om waterflooded deposits by underground fusion without the water withdrawal ofthe present invention (see patents herein above mentioned and, inaddition. patents granted to my Xumber 928, 036 on July 13, 1909, andNumber 988.995 on April 11, 1911) can ordinarily. if not always, be usedin connection with such water withdrawal In the case of a porous sulfurdeposit which is not flooded with naturally present. water and which (anbe flooded with water artificially it is considered advantageous tointroduce water into the same until it is flooded to the depth desiredand then to proceed as if dealing with a porous deposit flooded withnaturally present water. obtaining sulfur from such artificially floodeddeposit it is considered that it would be best to withdraw water of atemperature below the melting point of sulfur therefromcontemporaneously with the introduction of fusion fluid thereinto andthe removal of the melted sulfur therefrom as herein demri ed: but. itis believed that. sulfur could be obtained therefrom as from a naturallyflooded porous deposit by means of said three operations and appropriateappliances without contemporaneous performance of said three operationsand also by introduction of fusionfiuid and removal of melted sulfurWithout Withdrawal of water of term perature below the melting point ofsulfur. Producing wells of the character illustmtedinFigs.1,2and3orofothersuitable character could be used in appropriate caseswith or without water porous stancedeposit of true appliances in orderto mine by fusion a porous deposit flooded with water artificially.

Modifications either in process or appa rarus for working a porousdeposit either naturally or artificially flooded with water can be madeindefinitely so long as the substance of any one or more of thehereinafter written claims is taken.

The expresion subfiance mined" means sulfur primarily, butnotnecessarily exclusirely, in each of the claims in which theexpression occurs. It is intended to include any fusible substance whichcan be mined in accordance with the recitals of the claims I claim as myinvention or discovery:

1. The process of mining by fun'on, consisting in withdrawing water of atemperature below the melting point of the substance mined from a waterflooded porous deposit of such substance through an artificiallyprovided pasage, introducing fusion fluid into said deposit, andremoving the melted substance from slid deposit, sub stantially asdescribed.

2. The proce of mining by fusion, cons sting in withdrawing water of atemperature below the melting point of the submined from a water floodedporous such substance through an artificially provided pasage,introducing fusion fluid into said deposit, and removing the meltedsubstance from said deposit oontem eously with withdrawal of water ofsaid non-melting temperature, substancially as described 3. The processof mining by fusion, con sisting in withdrawing water of a temperaturebelow the melting point of the sub stance mined from a water floodedporous depositof such substance through an artificially provided pasage,introducing fusion fluid into said depositcontemporaneously withwithdrawal of water of said non melting temperature, and removing themelted substance from said deposit, substantially as deszribed.

4. The process of mining by fusion, consisting in water of a temperaturebelow the melting point of the substance mined from a water floodedporous dc t of such substance thron an artificially provided pasagr incing fusion fluid into said deposit, and removing the melted subziancefropgrmf mideleposit, the three operations orm contemporaneously, snhstati dl ly as described 5- The proces of mining by fusion, conin'vriihdrawing water of a temperabelow the melting point of the substancemined from a. water flooded porous deposit of such substance through anartificially provided passage. introducing fusiorr fluid into saiddeposit and in part at least near an intake for the melted substance,keeping the piping'through which the melted substance is removed at atem perature above the melting point of the latter by conveyance offusion fluid in appropriate relation to said piping, and removing themelted substance from the deposit through said piping, substantially asdescribed.

6. The proces of mining by fusion, consisting in withdrawing water of atemperature below the melting point of the substance mined from a waterflooded porous deposit of such substance through an artificiallyprovided passage, introducing fusion fluid into said deposit in mainpart elsewhere and in smaller part near an intake for the meltedsubstance, keeping the piping through which the melted substance isrcmoved at a temperature above the melting point of the latter byconveyance of fusion fluid in appropriate relation to said piping, andremoving the melted substance from the deposit through said piping,substantially as described.

1 The process of mining by fusion, con

sisting in withdrawing water of a temperature below the melting point;of the sub stance mined from a water flooded porous deposit of suchsubstance through a well located laterally a so diianoe from the pointof introduction of fusion fluid into slid deposit and yet withininfluencing dis tance of the same, fusion fluid into said deposit, andremoving the melted substance from said deposit, substantially asdescribed.

8. The process of mining by fusion, consisting in withdrawing water of atemperature below the melting point of the substance mined from a waterflooded porous deposit of such substance through an artificiallyprovided pasage,introducing fusion fluid into said deposit in largervolume than that of the m withdrawn water of non-melting temperatureafter deducting from the former volume an amount equal to the volume ofthe removed substance, so thatpart at leastof said fusion fluid mustflow away underground, and remofingigmelted substance from said deposit,su tially as described.

9. The process of mining by fusion, consisting in withdrawing water of atemperature below die melting point of the substance mined from a waterflooded porous deposit of such substance through a number of waterwithdrawing wells in sufiicieut voltune to influence the miningconditions within an extended area of said deposit, introclucing fusionfluid into said deposit within said area, and removing the meltedsubstance from said deposit, substantially as described.

10. The process of mining by fusion, consisting in withdrawing water ofa tempera ture below the melting point of the substance mined from awater flooded porous depositof such substance through a number of waterwithdrawing wells located within influencing distance of each other,introducing fusion fluid into said deposit by means of a number ofmelting wells located each of them within influencing distance of atleast one of said water withdrawing wells, and removing the meltedsubstance by means of wells distinct from said water withdrawing wells,substantially as described.

11. The process of mining by fusion, consisting in withdrawing water ofa temperature below the melting point of the substance mined from awater flooded porous deposit of such substance b v means of at least onewell whose bore hole extends below a level atwhich fusion fluid isintroduced into the deposit, introducing fusion fluid into said depos t.and removing the melted sub stance from said deposit, substantially asdescribed.

1:2- The process of mining by fusion, consisting in withdrawing water ofa temperatime below the melting point of the substance mined from awater flooded porous deposit of such substance by means of at leastonewell whose bore hole extends below the level of at least one intake forthe melted substance. introducing fusion fluid into said deposit andremoving the melted substance from said deposit, substantially asdescribed.

13. The proc1e$ of mining by fusion, consisting in withdrawing water ofa temperature below the melting point of the substance mined from awater flooded porous deposit of such substance through an artificiallyprovided pamage, accelerating the outflow through said pmge relativelyto thatwbich would take place through the same under the presume in thedeposit: in-

troducing fusion fluid into the deposit, and remo'ring the meltedsubstance from said deposit. substantially as described.

14. The prom of miningby fusion, con sisiing in water of a temperaturebelow the melting point of the substance mined from a. water floodedporous deposit of such substance through an artificially providedintroducing aeriform fluid into the underground column of water.reducing by such introduclaouof aeriform fluid the pressure of thecolumn which reaches fi-om the place of introduction to the surface ofthe ground to the extent of a number of aiznospheres, accelerating inthis way the outflow through said pasage relatively to that which wouldtake place through the some against the unveduced preure of said column,introducing fusion fiuid intojhe deposit, and remofing the meltedsubstance from said deposit; substnntially as described. V V 15. Theprocess oimining by fusion, conin withdrawing during current workingwater of a temperature below the melting point of the substance minedfrom a water flooded porous deposit of such sub stance through anartificially provided passage, introducing fusion fluid into saiddeposit, and removing the melted substance from said deposit,substantially as described.

16. The process of mining by fusion. consisting in introducing fusionfluid into a water flooded porous deposit of the sub stance mined,withdrawing water through an artificially provided passage from on"-side the fusion zone of the so introduced fluid, and removing the meltedsubstance from the deposit, substantially as described.

17. The proces of mining by fusion, consisting in artificially floodinga porous deposit with water, and subsequently withdrawing water of atemperature below the melting point of the substance mined from the soflooded deposit, introducing fusion fluid into said deposit, andremoving the melted Substance from said deposit. sub staniziallp asdescribed.

18. The pm of mining by fusion, consisting in artificially flooding aporous deposit with water, and subsumentl introducing fusion fluid intosaid deposit, and removing the melted substance from said deposit,substantially as described.

19. The process of preparing a porous depositfor by underground fusion.consisting in artificially flooding a porous deposit of water insolublefusible SHbSEdnce with water preparatory to the fusion of said substancewithin the so formed artificial body of water, substantially asdescribed.

20. Apparatus for mining by fusion, consisting of a water withdrawingwell with its water intake at a place in a water flooded porous depositof the substance mined at which water of a temperature below the meltingpoint of said substance will be to ken in means for introducing fusionfluid into said deposit, and means for removing the melted substancefrom said deposit. snbsinntially as described.

21- Apparatus for mining by fusion. consisting of a water withdrawingwell with its water intake at a place in a water flooded porous depositof the substance mined at which wake!- of a temperature below themelting point of said substance will be taken in, means for introducingfusion fluid into said deposit. and means for removing the meltedsubstance from said depositcontemporaneously with such withdrawal ofwater, substantially as described.

%2. Apparatus for mining by fusion. conof 'a. water withdrawing wellwith its water intake at a place in a water flooded porous deposit 'ofthe substance mined at which water of a temperature below the meltingpoint of said substance will be taken in, means for introducing fusionfluid water withdrawing well whose bore hole extends below at least oneintake for the melted substance and which has its water intake at aplace at which water will be taken in of a temperature below the meltingpoint of slid sulbstance, substafntially 1s desucslribed 32. p aratus ormining v on. consisting of a water withdrawing well with its waterintake at a place in a water flooded porous deposit of the substancemined atwhich water of a temperature below the melting point of saidsubstance will be taken in. means for introducing fusion fluid into saiddeposit, and means for removing the melted substance from said deposit,said water withdrawing well having provision for accelerating theoutflow of the water of said non-melting temperature as compared withthe outflow which would take place under the pressure in the deposit,substantiallyisdescribedf. b fusi 33. i paratus ormmmg v on, consisting(ii a water withdrawing well with its water intake at a place in a waterflooded porous deposit of the substance mined at which water of atemperature below the melting pointof said substance will be taken in,means for introducing fusion fluid into said deposit, and means forremoving the melted substance from sa d deposit, mid water withdrawingwell having provision for accelerating the outflow of the water of saidnon-melting temperature by introducing aeriform fluid underground intothe water column in such manner as to reduce the presure of an overlyingcolumn reach ing to the surface of the ground to the extent of a numberof atmospheres, substantially as described.

34. Apparatus for mining by fusion, conof a water withdrawing well withits water intake at a place in a water flooded porous deposit of thesubstance mined at which water of a temperature below the melting pointof said substance will be taken in during current worln'ng, means forintroducing fusion fluid into said deposit, and means for removing themelted substance from said deposit, substantially as described.

35. Apparatus for mining by fusion, con sisting of means for introducingfusion fluid into a water flooded porous deposit of the substance mined,a water withdrawing well with its water intake at a place outside of thefusion zone of the so introduced fluid, and means for removing themelted sub stance from said deposit, substantially as described.

36. Apparatus for mining by fusion, con sisting of means whereby aporous deposit of the substance mined can be flooded with waterartificially, a water withdrawing well with its water intake at a placein said deposit at which water of a temperature below the melting pointof mid substance will be taken in, means for introducing fusion fluidinto said deposit, and means for removing the melted substance from saiddeposit, substantially as described.

3?. Apparatus for mining by fusion, consisting of means whereby a porousdeposit of the substance mined can be flooded with water artificially,means for introducing fusion fluid into said porous deposit, and meansfor removing the melted substanm, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witneses.

HERMAN FBASCH. lVitnesses:

C. M. Foam, A. F. Oar-meg.

copicsufthispatzntmybeobtainedfuivecentseackbyaddreslngthcGonmisioneruthtents, wasmmncr It is hereby certified that in LettersPatent No. 1,152,499; granted September I 1915, upon the application ofHerinan Frasch of New York, N. Y., for an improve ment in MiningSulfur," an error appears in the printed s pecification requirin-.

correction follows: Page 8, line 108, claim 29, for the word withstnndinread withdrawing; and that the said Letters Patent should be read withthis correction therein that the same may conform to the record of "thecase in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 23d d'ay of May, A. 1)., 1916.

[SEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

' Acting Commissioner of Patents. Cl. 8378.

